Week 33/2015 in the Death with Dignity Movement

Last week (August 10 to August 16, 2015) the New Mexico Court of Appeals on Tuesday overturned a lower court’s decision that had, in effect, made Death with Dignity legal in the state. And, on Friday, a San Francisco Superior Court judge upheld California’s physician-assisted dying ban, saying the matter should be left for the state legislature to decide.

…And a Few We Missed the Previous Week

“The issue comes down to one of patient choice and control toward the vulnerable end of life. Most of us will be such patients at some point; hopefully by that time, we—and our doctors—will be empowered to make choices without outside interference.”“Physician-assisted dying: Honest choices,”Point Reyes Light, 8/6/2015

“A national movement to normalize end-of-life discussions among family and friends is on the rise. With Medicare planning to cover these conversations with physicians, The Conversation Project, a Boston-based non-profit, is highlighting the importance of talking openly about dying.” “New guidelines may encourage end-of-life discussions,”NPR, 8/8/2015